Judith Blum, MS, OTR/L Donna Ashman, Executive Director

Joyce Carla Farrington, M.Ed., OTR/L Marilyn Pinkney, Licensing Coordinator

Claudia McInerney, MOT, OTR/L Margaret Ann Nolan, OAG

Debbie Craig, COTA/L

Thaddeus Meade Felton, Consumer Member

Alfred Tyler, ASCP, Consumer Member

Elena Skittle-Watson, MAS, OTR/L

Wendy Starnes, MOTA

Carol Hamilton Zehnacker, APTA
Mindy Sacks, PTA

1. Licensure Review and Continuing Education Units Review
2. The General Session was called to order by Ms. Farrington at 9:05 a.m.
3. Review of February 16, 2001 - General Session Minutes – The General Session Minutes were motioned for approval by Ms. Farrington with Mr. Felton seconding the motion.

1. OAG Update – Margaret Ann Nolan, Deputy Counsel, OAG –

1. Ms. Nolan reviewed materials from other Boards regarding their processes for permanent licensure and temporary licensure review. The Boards, overall, do grant license(s) in open session. The three variations are:

• 1^st of granted and considered
• a list of names
• some have a sub-committee

Ms. Nolan brought back information in reference to the website(s) published by other health occupation

Boards. She stated that despite the Department’s directive requiring Boards to make information

available via the web, most boards don’t have websites. Those boards on-line do publish the

disciplinary information. Ms. Ashman commented that the Occupational Therapy Board submits a

summary of final orders to HIPDB and to the NBCOT. She stated that the same summary will be

published on the Board’s website so that consistency can be maintained.

1. Licensure Candidates – Carla Farrington, M.Ed., OTR/L

1. Motion to approve licensure applications of names listed on the form provided to the Board.

• Sarah Edmunds, Occupational Therapist
• Stacy Rosello, Occupational Therapist
• Janise Vargas, Occupational Therapist - Reinstatement
• Cynthia Keller, Occupational Therapist
• Fiona D’souza, Occupational Therapist
• Jennifer Kaywood, Occupational Therapist
• Nechama Raden, Occupational Therapist
• Melissa Muir, Occupational Therapy Assistant

1. Regulations 10.46.06: PAMS Proposal – Elaine Skittle-Watson, MAS, OTR/L

1. Task Force Meeting – Friday, March 9, 2001 – Update – Ms. Craig spoke in the absence of Ms. Skittle-Watson

1. Continuing Competence – Debbie Craig, COTA/L - nothing outstanding; quite a few applications for

approval this month.

- Elena Skittle-Watson, MAS, OTR/L - deferred to next meeting

2. Boards and Commission Council Meeting – Ms. Farrington summed up the many discussions at the

meeting. She pointed out the subject of the budget and that there is recommendation by the legislative for

$200,000 cut from the Board’s and Commission budget request. She also mentioned HB 1032 which would

authorize a fee increase. The last comment from the meeting was on a presentation given on Alcohol and

Drug and Substance Abuse Treatment. This information is available to each board. The Board

recommended that this information be published on our website.

3. Legislative Update – Carla Farrington, M.Ed., OTR/L

1. Status of Occupational Therapy Bill – HB 318 - Ms. Ashman reported that the House approved the bill 134 to 0.
2. Senate hearing scheduled for March 21, 2001 @ 1:00 p.m. – The following will attend the hearing next week: Ms. Craig, Ms. Farrington, and Ms. Ashman.

• Comments from APTA - Ms. Zehnacker, guest, spoke on an amendment that is proposed by APTA. She gave background information using the Physical Therapy licensees as an example. Ms. Farrington thanked the guest for presenting her amendment.

1. Administrative Update – Donna Ashman, Executive Director

1. Annual Workshop – Thursday, May 17 and Friday, May 18

1. Location – The workshop will be held at the Sheraton Fontainebleau in Ocean City. The discussion of this location is causing some conflicts on the calendar. Another location in the Western Maryland area will be researched. The Board will email Ms. Ashman if any other suggestions of a location should arise in the interim of researching the Western Maryland area.
2. Time for meeting – The proposed times are indicated on your agenda

1. Board Member Standard Operating Procedures (S.O.P.) – Revisions

Ms. Ashman stated revisions were distributed in the Board packets to update the SOP manual. This will be helpful in the future as new Board members become appointed to the Board.

HB1032 to the licensee – There was lengthy discussion on this bill. Mr. Felton questioned where

the Governor stood on this issue. Ms. Nolan stated that the Secretary is aware of this bill and the

Board’s opposition. Ms. Ashman gave background of the Maryland Health Care Cost Commission.

Ms. Farrington also provided feedback from the Boards and Commission Council meeting regarding

the Board’s opposition. Ms. Ashman will post this information for licensees on the website to

make the licensees aware that they can contact their legislative representatives to convey their

opinions.

7. Agenda item added for discussion – Ms. Ashman

Investigator – The previous investigator had too much of a caseload where he could not schedule time to address our current cases. Ms. Ashman will contact Ms. McInerney if a meeting will be held.

2. April 20, 2001 Board Meeting – Ms. Blum stated that she will be able to attend the next Board meeting. Ms. Ashman reminded the Board members that the AOTA conference will be held in April at the same time as the Board’s regularly scheduled meeting. However, there will be a quorum to conduct the Board’s meeting on April 20 without rescheduling.

NEW BUSINESS

No new business discussed.

Pursuant to the Maryland State Government Article, Section (a)(13), Annotated Code of Maryland, Ms. Farrington moved to close the General Session Meeting at 10:18 a.m.

Submitted by:

Marilyn Pinkney

Licensing Coordinator